AN inquest yesterday heard how a father of three was killed when a barrier at the entrance to a Welsh supermarket car park smashed through his windscreen.

Kenneth Farr, 37, a technician, of Shakespeare Avenue, Penarth, died during a trip to the Asda supermarket in Cardiff Bay with his three-year-old daughter Jessica on May 14, 2002.

The jury inquest at Cardiff Coroners court heard how the steel swing barrier had not been locked in the open position on the day of the incident.

Mr Farr's widow, Helen, said her husband's death had been "pointless and futile" and "to-tally avoidable".

She said: "Since his death our lives have changed dramatically beyond belief and we have had to rely on state benefits."

Kane Germon of Cardiff was driving in front of Mr Farr when the accident happened.

He said: "I heard a loud bang and saw that the barrier had gone through the car.

"I went to Mr Farr's car and could see that he had been seriously injured. I noticed his daughter, who I now know to be called Jessica, in the back seat. I shielded her away so she couldn't see her father and I took her to my car."

After leaving Jessica with his wife, Mr Germon returned to try and help Mr Farr but he was pronounced dead at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

Retired South Wales Police Inspector Neil Godfrey said: "The operating policy of Asda is that whether the barrier is open or closed, the padlock should be engaged. When we found it, it was actually on the closed gate post."

Mr Godfrey said on the day of the incident the wind was between 21 and 26 knots and was powerful enough to move the unsecured barrier.

Mark Harris, for Asda, told the inquest the barrier had been installed to prevent the car park from being used at night for anti-social driving.

Shopper Carol Bateman told detectives she reported the dangerous barrier to a security guard during a visit to the store in October 2001.

Upon leaving the store she noticed it was still moving freely by itself so she told a staff member at the store's petrol station.

Det Con Northam said: "She said that neither person was interested by what she had to say."

Rosalyn Davies visited the store with her daughter Bethan Lloyd on May 14 - just hours before Mr Farr was killed.

Det Con Northam said: "They said they arrived at the store mid-morning and they drove into the store when the barrier swung across the road in front of them.

"Bethan got out and had to push the barrier back into the open position."

The inquest was adjourned by coroner Mary Hassell and will resume today.